Nelson Aviation College
Nicholas Bird continues his series on professional flight schools which offer student loans for training towards a commercial pilot licence. He offers a short review on each school and interviews graduates to find out where they are now, how they got there and what advice they can give to people in the early stages of their aviation careers. For readers who are or know anyone who is considering a career in aviation, a student in aviation, or even graduates looking to find their first job, this series should give an idea of how pilots make their way through this industry in the 21st century.
The Nelson Aviation College (NAC) is a professional flight training school based in the beautiful surroundings of Motueka, close to the Abel Tasman and Kahurangi National Parks and just a short drive from the city of Nelson in the north of the South Island.
Since the college’s conception in the mid-1970s it has proved to be one of New Zealand’s premiere flight training establishments for both rotary and fixed wing pilots, many of whom have gone on to success in global aviation. During recent years it has trained pilots for overseas airlines and also international helicopter companies.
On the green grass (plus sealed runway) of Motueka aerodrome, students train under the umbrella of the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology’s Diploma in Aviation Science programme. Here they have the opportunity to study for a handful of exams at the end of the professional licence training and receive their diploma, which then allows Nelson graduates to matriculate on to a distance-learning top-up year with Griffith University in Australia to gain a Bachelors degree in Aviation. By training under this programme, students may be eligible for a student loan to cover the costs of their professional flight training.
Today the college’s fixed wing fleet consists of Cessna 152, Cessna 172 and Cessna 172RG Cutlass aeroplanes, with a Piper Seneca for multi engine work. Rotary students can learn their craft on the Robinson R22 and the Hughes 500C. The campus is equipped with classroom facilities, lounges and a cafeteria for lunch and snacks.
Accommodation is situated on the airfield or students can benefit from the peaceful and somewhat bohemian town of Motueka for self-catering private accommodation. Close by are beautiful beach settings, and from both land and sky students are visually spoilt by the shorelines and beautiful mountain terrain this region has to offer.
On contacting the college all prospective and future students are welcomed by Sue Congdon who works to ensure a high level of pastoral care for all students, especially for those far from home.
In the words of CFI Jeremy Anderson, “Sue does everything, runs administration … she is the first point of call when students either phone, email or call in. She sorts them out, she coordinates all documentation for students, organises exams, takes care of accommodation, assists Katrina with finances and keeps staff on their toes!”
Airline partnership
Last April NAC, together with four other leading flight training organisations, formed a partnership with Air New Zealand to deliver ab-initio first officer training which will establish a pathway into the airlines after graduation with a commercial pilot licence.
The five schools — Nelson, the International Aviation Academy of New Zealand, Southern Wings, Air Hawke’s Bay and the Massey University School of Aviation — are now known as Air New Zealand Aviation Institute FTO partners and the Air New Zealand logo is imprinted on each of their professional courses.
The college underwent a gruelling selection campaign by the airline to determine its suitability as a training provider, in particular its ability to adopt an airline styled selection process. NAC’s selection on to the programme is due to the dedicated work of its chief executives, Giles and Katrina Witney, CFI Jeremy Anderson and their staff.
The partnership means that future Nelson cadets will participate in a training course structured to produce the airline pilots of tomorrow and also graduate in Air New Zealand’s preferred pool of low-hour candidates for selection as turboprop first officers in times of high demand.
On completion of their CPLs, graduates will be able to undertake an airline integration course at the Aviation Institute’s centre in Auckland. The course deals with many aspects of multi-crew cooperation within the flight deck environment. It is good training for recently licensed pilots used to a single-pilot operation, before they embark on a heavier multi-crew aircraft type rating.
On completion of the type rating, pilots will enter the industry in an hour-building capacity until they reach the minimum experience for placement on the flight deck as a first officer.
- Report by Nicholas McIndoe; photo by Gavin Conroy